The 50-year water supply plan has hit another snag. Thomas Frederick, executive director of the Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority (RWSA) announced today during a press conference that design firm Gannett Fleming has been ordered to stop work on plans for a dam at Ragged Mountain.
Frederick explained that the decision came after Gannett Fleming raised its cost estimate to $70 million from $37 million in August. RWSA hired a new firm, Schnabel Engineering, to analyze the data, and Schnabel reported that the dam could be completed for at least $13.5 million less than Gannett Fleming’s latest estimate, which would put the cost of the dam at $56.5 million.
At 2pm today, RWSA’s board will discuss the possibility of “engaging” an independent outside panel with at least three members “with specific knowledge of dam design, costs, and construction.” The panel would reference reports from both firms, as well as new geophysical data that Schnabel will collect.
Once cheered for achieving community consensus, the 50-year water supply plan—which as of today has a minimum estimated cost of $163 million—has come under fire in the past year from a group calling themselves Citizens for a Sustainable Water Plan. It was the subject of a C-VILLE cover story in the spring that examined the dispute about the plan that has divided many former allies.
A dramatic 89 percent increase in cost estimates for a new dam at Ragged Mountain have led RWSA to consult with a new design firm.